We're not really here right now...

Think about this for a second.  How do you know you actually exist?  Is it because of the conversations you have with other people?  Is it because of the various sensations you experience?  How do you actually know that any of that is real?  According to Greek philosopher, Andromeda, there is no proof that you are reading this paper right now.  Because our reality is determined by the meaning we give to certain events and people, we do not necessarily exist in this world.  There is no proof we have everyday, real life interactions.  This is because of the theory Johnny Depp has recently developed.  He says, “Only we can acknowledge that we exist because we have created our world.”  This means our day-to-day interactions are only illusions of the mind; there is no proof we actually engage in these.  Instead, our own thought processes and figments of imagination make up our lives.  I’ll leave you with this last thought, the Nobel Prize winning physicist Matt Thomas stated in his 250 page thesis that “I’m here or am I?” Nobody can answer that question for him, even himself.        

YouTube Video on Health Care Reform

Helpful, animated video that explains Health Care Reform.

Polysyndeton Example #3

"We lived and laughed and loved and left"

-James Joyce

Cartoon about Obesity

A friend shared this with me last week. Unfortunately, I'm not sure where it's from, but a search of John Cole (the artist) should help us locate it.

Example of Enumeratio

Using enumeratio would mean elaborating the details in the sentence, "I want to expand the business into overseas markets" to make the following:

"I have grown up with this business and it now needs to grow beyond our current borders into the green fields of opportunity in markets away from these shores, where we can excite new customers and build further on our outstanding success so far."

Citation: Changing Minds

Metaphor Example

Metaphors can be seen everywhere--even advertising! 


"Life is a journey, travel it well."--United Airlines

Antithesis #3

Referring to Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon:
"One small step for a man, one giant leap for all mankind."

Parallelism Example

"But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."
Amos 5:24

Bible (English Standard Version)

Alliteration example

"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers;
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked;
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?"
-Mother Goose, Inspirational Story Teller

Climax Example #2

"When we send our young men and women into harm's way, we have a solemn obligation not to fudge the numbers or shade the truth about why they're going, to care for their families while they're gone, to tend to the soldiers upon their return, and to never ever go to war without enough troops to win the war, secure the peace, and earn the respect of the world."

(Barack Obama, "The Audacity of Hope," 2004 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address)

Aposiopesis Example

“If you can only live...” -- Princess Isabelle


From the movie Braveheart, the Princess is unable to complete this sentence because she is overcome by crying. 


http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=1320

Assonance example # 2

"In the brief span of thirty-odd years, the world has seen an inventors dream, first materialized by the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, become an everyday actuality" -Amelia Earhart

 "e"sound in seen and dream is repeated.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/figures/assonance.htm

Epitheton Example

Here is another example of Epitheton:


"I will give the people a vision of Rome and they'll love me for it. And they'll soon forget the tedious sermonizing of a few dry old men."
-Joaquin Phoenix, Gladiator


The underlined sections of this sentence, tedious sermonizing and few dry old men, are examples of epitheton because there is an adjective used to describe a person or thing.


http://www.americanrhetoric.com/figures/epitheton.htm

Scesis Onomaton Example #2

A man huge in stature, soft in voice, graceful in manner.
http://www.rhetorosaurus.co.uk/rhetoric/base/definition-show.aspx?item=23

Oxymoron Example! #2

More oxymorons...
1. I almost always go to my grandma's house.
2. The ending of the lacrosse season was bittersweet.
3. We can just agree to disagree.

Anesis Example 2

I love you without question. I adore you, above all others. But I'm not sure I want to go out with you.

http://changingminds.org/techniques/language/figures_speech/anesis.htm

Polysyndeton Example #2

I said, "Who killed him?" and he said, "I don't know who killed him but he's dead all right," and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights and windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything all blown and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat where I had her inside Mango Bay and she was all right only she was full of water.


-Ernest Hemingway (After the Storm)

Allusion Example 2

Love Story by Taylor Swift.

The whole song is basically an allusion.  Swift is alluding to Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's play.  She talks about a love that is very similar to the romance most people are familiar with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKpAtxN0Sxo

Symploce example #2

"Much of what I say might sound bitter, but it's the truth. Much of what I say might sound like it's stirring up trouble, but it's the truth. Much of what I say might sound like it is hate, but it's the truth."
-- Malcolm X

Source: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/figures/symploce.htm